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| Deleted: <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Leaflets in every house</h4> | |
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| Deleted: <p>To promote proper waste sorting and reduce the environmental impact of household garbage, Leipzig has implemented a comprehensive awareness campaign that includes distributing leaflets to every household. These leaflets provide clear instructions on how to separate organic waste, recyclables, paper, and residual waste, ensuring that residents understand the importance of correct sorting. The leaflets are designed to be visually engaging and easy to follow, often featuring illustrations and multilingual explanations to reach a diverse population. By ensuring that each household is equipped with this information, Leipzig aims to increase recycling rates, reduce contamination in recycling bins, and minimize the amount of waste sent to landfills. This initiative is part of a broader effort to foster a culture of sustainability, helping citizens actively participate in the city’s waste reduction goals.<br></p> | Added: <p class="cvGsUA direction-ltr align-justify para-style-body"><span class="OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">n Leipzig, more than 600,000 people live, and while this may not be a large number compared to other German cities, the city still faces a significant food waste problem. A community named Community-supported agriculture (CSA) connects farmers and consumers directly, reducing food waste by 22–70% compared to regular farms. Even with smaller harvests, less waste balances the difference.</span></p><h4 class="cvGsUA direction-ltr align-justify para-style-body"><strong><span class="OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">Waste management</span></strong></h4><p class="cvGsUA direction-ltr align-justify para-style-body"><span class="OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">Stadtreinigung Leipzig (Leipzig Waste Management Services) is a direct service organization of the City of Leipzig with 800 staff. Its services include waste management, street cleaning, and maintaining Leipzig’s green spaces.</span></p><h4 class="cvGsUA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body"><span class="OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">Interesting facts:</span></h4><ul><li><span class="OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">17 recycling centres;</span></li><li><span class="OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">Waste collections for about 340,000 households and business customers;</span></li><li><span class="OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">Maintenance of 760 green spaces, parks and squares with a total area of 798 hectares;</span></li><li><span class="OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">Cleaning of two thirds of the road network with a total length of 1,780 km, about 1,000 km of public pavements and cycle paths, and the popular pedestrian zones in the city centre.</span></li></ul><h4 class="cvGsUA direction-ltr align-justify para-style-body"><span class="OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">Zero-Waste grocery stores</span></h4><p class="cvGsUA direction-ltr align-justify para-style-body"><span class="OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">Several zero-waste grocery stores in Leipzig, such as </span><span class="OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">Ladencafé Vleischerei</span><span class="OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none"> and </span><span class="OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">Unverpackt Leipzig</span><span class="OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">, play a critical role in reducing food waste. These stores encourage customers to purchase only what they need by offering unpackaged food and allowing shoppers to bring their own containers. By reducing packaging and promoting mindful consumption, these stores help to minimize food waste at the source. Additionally, they often partner with local farmers and producers to ensure that food is fresh and that any surplus is redistributed rather than discarded.</span></p><h4 class="cvGsUA direction-ltr align-justify para-style-body"><strong><span class="OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">Waste separation</span></strong></h4><p class="cvGsUA direction-ltr align-justify para-style-body"><span class="OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">Different types of waste are collected and recycled separately. In Germany, waste separation starts directly with the consumer. This means that every household must sort its own waste and throw it into different bins and containers. Most of the waste in Germany is recycled and composted, which conserves resources and protects the environment. Basically, avoiding waste is still the easiest way to do something about the growing mountains of rubbish. If you throw something in the wrong bin, the employees or sorting facilities at the recycling centres must sort it out. If we all sort correctly, we can avoid this effort, reduce costs and do something for the environment. In Germany, you must separate your waste and put it in the correct bins. Each bin has a colour showing what can go inside. Check the yearly "waste calendar" for collection dates. Incorrect waste separation can lead to fines or higher costs. Always follow the rules to avoid trouble.</span></p><h4 class="cvGsUA direction-ltr align-justify para-style-body"><span class="OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">Deposit obligation</span></h4><p class="cvGsUA direction-ltr align-justify para-style-body"><span class="OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">There is a so-called "deposit obligation" for certain drinks packaging. If you buy plastic and glass bottles or drinks cans in the supermarket, you pay a few cents more for them. If you return them empty later to the empties collection point in a supermarket (usually a vending machine), you get this money back. This is called a "deposit". There are two different types of these special bottles:</span></p><ul><li><span class="OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">On disposable bottles (which are recycled) you will find a square sign with a can and a bottle surrounded by an arrow. This is the logo of Deutsche P-fand-System GmbH. You will receive a 25-cent deposit back on bottles or cans with this symbol.</span></li><li><span class="OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">On returnable bottles (which are washed and refilled) you will either find no labelling at all, a "blue angel" or the words "returnable (bottle)", "returnable bottle" or "deposit bottle". You get a 15-cent deposit back for returnable bottles. For beer bottles it is 8 cents.</span></li><li><span class="OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">Beverage cartons are deposit-free.</span></li></ul><p class="cvGsUA direction-ltr align-justify para-style-body"><span class="OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">If you don't have the time or inclination to return your deposit bottles yourself, you can also leave them in a clearly visible place next to a rubbish bin on the street. There are many people in Germany who collect these bottles to earn a little extra money.</span></p> |
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| Deleted: <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Food waste education and workshops</h4> | |
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| Deleted: <p>Educational programs and workshops are crucial in raising awareness about food waste in Leipzig. Initiatives such as Restlos Glücklich and local environmental organizations offer cooking classes, sustainability workshops, and community events aimed at teaching people how to reduce food waste in their daily lives. These programs focus on meal planning, preserving food, and creative ways to use leftovers. By empowering residents with the knowledge and tools to minimize food waste, these initiatives contribute to the city's broader sustainability goals.<br></p> | |
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| Deleted: <p>Leipzig’s schools and public institutions have implemented food waste recycling programs to instil eco-friendly habits at an early age. Many schools encourage students to sort their food waste into compost bins, which are later used to fertilize school gardens or sent to local composting facilities. Public institutions, such as hospitals and government buildings, have also adopted food waste recycling practices, ensuring that large-scale food waste is managed sustainably. These programs help reduce the environmental impact of food waste while educating the community on responsible waste management practices.</p> | |
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